1. Italy_finding_ancestor_BW.pdf
2. italy_finding_ancestor_color.pdf
3. Italian_genealogy_wordlist.pdf

The "Mormons" (Latter Day Saints) have filmed some of the Italian Civil Records for many of the comuni (municipalities) in Italy from about 1810 to 1860. Some LDS microfilms go up to the 1900/1910s ...BUT many do NOT.  Therefore, if your ancestors, born in the 1880s & 1890s, came over as adults in the 1900s you will have a gap in the records.  Write to the Civil Record Offices in the USA and Italy to find your direct line ancestor's records when trying to fill in missing years.  

PLEASE don't make the mistake of thinking someone in a microfilm, born 50 years before your ancestor, with the same surname and born in the same village is necessarily of the same family line.

Search the Family History Library Catalog for records on the birthplace of your ancestors.  In the Place search type in the name of the comune (town where your ancestor was born or married or died) and then click the grey search button.

The most important step in Italian Genealogy Research:
  In Italian Genealogy Research the most important step is to find out exactly which comune (municipality or township) in Italy your ancestors came from and where they were born.  The place they were living in Italy before they emigrated may NOT be where they were born.   Italian Ancestor Origins can be found on documents and records such as Immigration papers, Birth records, Marriage Records, Death Records, Census Records, copies of original Social Security Applications, Ellis Island or other Immigrant Ship Passenger Arrival Records, and Naturalization Papers.  These records are all very useful in order to discover where in Italy your ancestors were born.  Once you find this valuable heritage information you will be able to gather your Italian Ancestry Records from the correct municipality & province.  Then you will be able to connect to living family related to your exact Italian Family Tree. (Cugini and Parenti)

One of the fastest and most fun ways to find out more about your ancestors:
Find others interested in the Genealogy of Families from the same municipality, city, town, or village as your ancestor and you will have more fun and better results.  This is true for any kind of genealogical research not just Italian research.  It doesn't matter if they share your surname.  The information from these types of location specific connections is very valuable.  Some researchers will know stories that will help you connect to fact.  Some might even help you get records from the Italian comune office or church if they are going there on a visit.  Some have films of Italian Vital Records for your comune of interest, which have been filmed by the Mormons, on permanent loan at their local LDS-Family History Center and they will do free lookups for you.  Also, most of the records filmed by the Mormons are also available by writing to the Province Archives in Italy, so if a connection finds your ancestor in one of the Registries of Birth, Marriage or Death then  you can write for a copy from Italy if it's too difficult to deal with the LDS Family History Centers due to location or if they are closed. (unfortunately many are closing or cutting back hours and it is sad for genealogy researchers)

Keep organized:
LDS invented the Gedcom and they distribute free Family Tree software.  I've tried all the Family Tree Maker programs (*all* of them except the ones for Mac) and I like and still use their older PAF4 version except when I use their GEDCOM to Web tool then I use PAF 5.  (example of my San Fele, Italy Family Trees study using the easy PAF-5 web create)

Eventually you will find it much easier to use a computer genealogy program to save all of your familytree information rather than handwriting or typing everything on sheets of paper. After wasting time :-)) trying most of the genealogy programs available I finally returned to the good ol' basic Personal Ancestral File 4.0 (PAF4.0)  It is FREE, COMPACT, and so EASY to use that I have never had to read the directions.  "For me" PAF-4 is much more comfortable on the eyesight than PAF-5. (too bad they couldn't just fix the word wrap on PAF-4 and leave it alone because PAF-5 has a difficult to see & read GUI ...) (in other words it gives me eyestrain)  Most of the other genealogy programs are bloated and not as convenient and efficient to use.

Ask for Corrections:
Once every year or so, "if" you have uncovered more information on your family tree research, print out copies and send to your relatives.  You don't have to send the entire thing... just the branch they are in.  Ask for corrections.  It's easier if they have computers because then you can simply upload your gedcom onto a free server offering free web space and use it for your family tree history.  You will get more results and find more relatives if you make your genealogical information available online in such a way that your tree can be easily found in search engines such as google otherwise potential family members will have to know all the different groups that require signups in order to find you. Don't limit your availability to easily connect to people from all over the world who are doing research on your comune of interest by locking and trapping yourself into a passworded or pay to view database.

The easiest online tree sites which can be view by all computers, no matter what kind of operating system they are using, or whether they allow scripts or activeX or not are those that are like GenCircles, Rootsweb-WorldConnect *OR* use the free space you get with your ISP connection or use a free website host and your own Gedcom to HTML Program...  I use PAF5 as I said above and also GED4WEB.

Most of the sign-in-to-view sites now require Java Script, which is very slow loading, more difficult to read (pale & thin type faces) extremely wide (movie viewing format) and Worse is that some Java and other scripts can compromise computer security so I don't recommend them to my readers.

If you have family members with computers send your family members your family tree link asking if they will "proof-read" and send you corrections or more information if they have it.  If they don't have computers, which most of the senior-citizens who give me terrific information do not,  then snail-mail family group sheets to the individuals connected to each family group and ask them to please make corrections.  Send 2 copies; one for them to edit and one for them to keep.  It is easier for them if you visit or talk to them on the phone.  Make sure to note who gives you information in case you have questions in the future.  Try to find recorded, written documents to prove every genealogical (family legend) story. 

Find Written Proof:
After writing down or entering your basic family tree information in a genealogy program start to acquire copies of written proof in the form of civil or church documents to verify all of the family legends and interesting stories.  It is good to share "primary source" documents like Birth, Marriage, Death and Census Records, Military Records, Ships' Passenger Arrival Manifest, pictures of Grave or Tombstone Markers, Work Papers, Naturalization Papers, Land Records, World War I Draft Registration Cards, Wills, Deeds, and etc, with relatives who are also researching the same lines & who share with you.  Sharing with other family members also saves your work for posterity.  Sharing with your relatives is a good way to have a friendly backup in case any of your research is damaged, lost, hit by a hurricane or whatever.  Always share with your good relatives or those doing research in your towns of interest for comments, corrections and more information.    

What is Proof vs. Legend?
A Primary Source is one that is proof positive that the person mentioned is the person you claim them to be.  Primary sources are documents that were created at the time an event occurred like a birth, marriage or death date being recorded at the time of the actual birth, marriage, or death.  A birth date on a death record is not a primary source it is a secondary source.  A Secondary Source is one that is not actually proven but gives you a good clue.  IMPORTANT NOTE: all Government and other 'official' records "may" still contain errors in spelling, dates, ages, and more.  This is why it's smart to get about 3 records minimum (or more) on each person if possible.  Most "Family Stories" or "Family Legends" contain a basic truth but are often "decorated" or contain misspellings or other problems of oral tradition.  Collect primary source records to prove the stories.

Where to Write for Vital Records in the United States:
Most USA States have archived birth, marriage, divorce and death records at their Office of Vital Records since the early 1900s & a few have them from about 1880.  Check this link: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm  If earlier records exist you would write to the County Recorder in the county where the event occurred. Contact the local City Hall where the event occurred as sometimes smaller cities & towns will provide you with copies from their office.